Page 36 of Kiss Me at Midnight
“It’s not.” Lily gave his shoulders a little shake.
“I reject your offers.” Paulo grinned, pointing to a couple fishing off the back of a boat nearby. “We will fish. If I catch the biggest fish, you keep my secret. And if you catch the biggest fish, you will keep my secret.”
Dotty scoffed, half turning on the jet ski. “Heads I win, tails you lose? Not a chance. I wasn’t born yesterday.”
“No deal.” Jud shook his head. “You have nothing to bargain with.”
“But I do.” Paulo’s normally open expression turned sly as a fox. “Rachel recorded you and your agent-man the day we left.”
Jud did a quick mental review of his conversation with Darian. They’d argued about his role as Titanium Talon versus directing. They’d argued about Jud toning down his appearance in the gossip magazines. And they’d argued about him fake dating someone who was…
He’d talked about Lily in unflattering terms.
Jud glanced over his shoulder at Lily. Her eyes were wide and curious behind those water-spotted lenses. But her gaze wasn’t just inquisitive. There was trust in her eyes.
Jud had argued with Darian about dating someone safe and mundane, having an on-call, fake girlfriend who didn’t tempt him or the media. He’d thought Lily was that woman, but she wasn’t like that at all. She was full of surprises. Jud didn’t want her to know the truth about why he’d approached her in the first place. She’d still be a fantastic boost to his new image, but there was the nagging suspicion that he wanted to date her for real. “Okay, we fish. If I catch the biggest fish, we’ll keep your secret if you’ll protect Lily.”
“When I catch the biggest fish, you will keep my secretandmake Rachel happy.” Paulo sat up tall, puffing out his chest. “Of course, I will win. I grew up in a fishing village. I am an excellent fisherman.”
“I don’t like this.” Lily leaned around to look Jud in the eye. “Rachel will only be happy when she’s married to Paulo.”
“Don’t be so sure.” Jud headed the jet ski back to the yacht. “I think what makes Rachel happy changes as often as your grandmother’s bucket list.”
*
“Daddy’s working in his suite,” Rachel told them during lunch after they’d set sail for Charleston. “He and his expectations make me so tense. People who judge me trigger my inner biotch.”
In truth, Rachel looked more relaxed to Lily than anytime during the trip other than when they’d discussed Aviator’s costume. Lily suspected it wasn’t Abe’s absence, but the deal Paulo and Jud had struck. They were all pretending everything was fine and that they were all good friends. No betrayals in their past or their future. But there was a tension at the table, evidenced by the rigidity of Lily’s posture and the blackening bump on Paulo’s head.
“I used to enjoy that trigger on your show.” Grandma Dotty drank from her ice water. “I don’t think I’m gonna anymore.”
“Not watch my show?” Rachel’s brow crinkled. “Are you judging me?”
“Nope.” Grandma Dotty fluffed her helmet-smashed, silver locks. “I’m just over it.”
“Like my producer said,” Rachel murmured.
Lily snuck a glance at Jud. He was devouring his lunch as if he had no secrets. Lily knew that wasn’t true. He’d cut a deal with Paulo. What had Jud said to his agent on one of Rachel’s cameras that he didn’t want to come to light? Jud had slanted a glance toward Lily when Paulo issued the threat. Why? How could a conversation with his agent hurt or upset Lily? It had raised her guard.
Lily’s only true ally was her grandmother, who’d told the porter she’d stick to the green salad, foregoing the main course of duck confit with spicy pickled raisins in favor of her continued request for an egg salad sandwich. Grandma Dotty could be so random, popping in and out of reality without notice.
In other words, Lily had no dependable allies when it came to a defense against Rachel.
Rachel picked at her duck and her allies. “Marta, I don’t know why you didn’t bring more cutting edge designer pieces on this trip. My wardrobe is pathetic.” She wore bright, geometric pattern capris and a yellow off-the-shoulder blouse. She looked fantastic.
Lily took in her simple white jeans and teal sweater set with a sigh. She glanced across the table at Marta. “I, for one, loved the options you brought. I recognized Stella McCartney’s latest spring collection, as well as Christian Siriano.”
That earned a grateful smile from Marta and a disparaging sniff from Rachel. Lunch was finished on a relatively quiet note. Rachel and Marta went below to work on wedding details while the others traipsed down to the boat garage for the fishing wager to begin.
Chairs and blankets were brought out for the spectators. A porter provided Jud and Paulo with fishing rods and live bait.
“What do you think they’ll catch?” Lily settled into a chair, put a blanket over her lap, and adjusted her prescription sunglasses. “Tuna? Marlin?”
“Whatever it is, I hope Jud’s is bigger.” Grandma Dotty adjusted her lap blanket with one hand, while holding onto her wide-brimmed straw hat with the other. She caught the porter’s eye. “When can I expect my egg salad sandwich?”
“I’ll check on it now.” The porter disappeared.
“No cameras here.” Paulo deftly put a strip of raw fish on his hook. “I will bait yours, Jud, if you–”
